42 Christmas Island. 



Order PELECANIFORMES. 



Sub-Order FREGATI. 



14. Fregata aquila. 



Fregata aquila (Linn.), Sliarpe, P.Z.S., 1887, p. 516; Lister, P.Z.S., 1888, 

 p. 529 ; Oo-ilvie Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., xxvi, p. 443 (1898) ; 

 Sharpe, Handl. B., i, p. 237 (1899). 



a, h, (5 9. Flying Fish Cove, November 13, 1897. 



<'> '^j c? V J^^"^- Flying Fish Cove, November 4, 18, 1897. 



According to Mr. Andrews, who shot some breeding birds, the 

 male of the large Frigate Bird is almost entirely black, being 

 white only from the lower breast down to the vent, including the 

 lower flanks and upper part of the thighs. The female is black 

 above, and has the throat black, but is white from the lower throat 

 downwards ; the sides of the body black, with a large white patch 

 on the flanks. The young birds have a rusty- coloured head and 

 throat. 



[Perhaps the most interesting of the birds of Christmas Island 

 are the Frigate-birds, two species of which occur. Numbers of 

 these birds could nearly always be seen sailing and circling in the 

 air at all heights ; in calm weather they often soar till scarcely 

 visible. The flight is wondei-fully graceful, and it is a pleasui'e 

 to watch a group mo-sdng along the coast in a succession of 

 sweeping circles, rising against the wind, or descending with it. 

 In flight the head is carried close to the body, so that the bird 

 seems to have no neck, and the tip of the beak is about on a level 

 with the anterior angle of the outstretched wings. The feathers 

 arc often cleaned during flight, and occasionally the bird shakes 

 itself like a dog that has just left the water, dropping through 

 the air meanwhile. The young birds seem to be able to fly 

 perfectly well as soon as they leave the nest, and groups of them 

 could often be seen near the coast stooping to the water, one after 

 the other, to pick up leaves and other floating objects, and then 

 dropping them, apparently iii'actising the method by which their 

 parents obtain their food, which consists of surface fish and 

 cei^halopods. I never saw a Frigate-bird dive. 



The old birds by no means de])end for food on the fish they catch 

 themselves, but systematically rob the Gannets, which breed in 

 great numbers on the island. Towards sunset many Frigate-birds 

 may be seen sailing along the coast, watching for the return of the 

 Gannets, full-fed from the fishing grounds. The birds being well 

 aware of what is in store for them, and knowing that if they can 

 reach the shelter of the trees thej^ are safe, approach the island at 

 a great speed, flying as low down as possible. Usually, while they 

 are still at some distance, two or three Frigate-birds give chase, and 



